77-81-6

Liquid. Readily soluble in organic solvents; miscible with water but readily hydrolyzed; destroyed by bleaching powder, generating cyanogen chloride. Combustible.

Chemical warfare agent.

Colorless to brown liquid with a faint fruity odor. Used as a chemical warfare agent.

Hydrolysis forms hydrogen cyanide.

When heated to decomposition, GA. emits very toxic fumes of oxides of phosphorus and nitrogen. Avoid water and acids. Can react with oxidizing materials. [EPA, 1998].

Very toxic by inhalation, cholinesterase inhibitor, amilitary nerve gas, fatal dose (man) 0.01 mg/kg.

GA. is toxic by inhalation and by absorption through skin and eyes. The lethal dose for humans may be as low as 0.01 mg/kg. GA. is a nerve agent; it acts as a cholinesterase inhibitor. The median lethal dosage (respiratory) is 400 mg-minute/m3 for humans; the median incapacitating dosage is 300 mg-minute/m3. Respiratory lethal dosages kill in 1 to 10 minutes; liquid in the eye kills nearly as rapidly. Skin absorption great enough to cause death may occur in 1 to 2 minutes, but may be delayed for 1 to 2 hours.

Extremely poisonous. (Non-Specific -- Poison A, Liquid) Keep away from sparks, flames, and sources of ignition. Keep out of water sources and sewers. Hydrolysis forms hydrogen cyanide. When heated to decomposition, GA. emits very toxic fumes of oxides of phosphorus and nitrogen. Avoid water and acids. Can react with oxidizing materials.

GA is a highly persistent (may remain liquid for more than 24 hours) chemical warfare agent; military nerve gas. Nerve agents are more toxic and potent than insecticides. Note: If used as a weapon, notify United States Department of Defense: Army. Damage and/or death may occur before chemical detection can take place. Use M8 paper if available (Detection: yellow) or M256-A1 Detector Kit (Detection limit: 0.005 milligram per cubic meter).

Inhalation: Hold breath until respiratory protective mask is donned. If severe signs of agent exposure appear (chest tightens, pupil construction, a lack of coordination; etc.), immediately administer, in rapid succession, all three Nerve Agent Antidote Kit(s), Mark I injectors (or atropine if directed by the local physician). Injections using the Mark I kit injectors may be repeated @ 5 to 20 minute intervals if signs and symptoms are progressing until three series of injections have been administered. No more injections will be given unless directed by medical personnel. In addition, a record will be maintained of all injections given. If breathing has stopped, give artificial respiration. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be used when approved mask-bag or oxygen delivery systems are not available. Do not use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when facial contamination exists. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. Seek medical attention immediately. Eye contact: immediately flush eyes with water for 10-15 minutes then don respiratory protective mask. Although miosis (pinpointing of the pupils) may be an early sign of agent exposure, an injection will not be administered when miosis is the only sign present. Instead, the individual will be taken immediately to the medical treatment facility for observation. Skin contact: Don respiratory protection mask and remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with copious amounts of soap and water, 10% sodium carbonate solution, or 5% liquid household bleach. Rinse well with water to remove decontaminate. Use M258A1 and/or M291 kit for skin decontamination. Speed in removing material from skin is of extreme importance. Administer an intramuscular injection with the MARK I kit injectors only if local sweating and muscular twitching symptoms are observed. Seek medical attention immediately. Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. First symptoms are likely to be gastrointestinal. Immediately administer 2 mg. intramuscular injection of the MARK I kit auto-injectors. Seek medical attention immediately.

UN2810 Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poison Inhalation Hazard, Technical Name Required. Military driver shall be given full and complete information regarding shipment and conditions in case of emergency. AR 50-6 deals specifically with the shipment of chemical agents. Shipments of agent will be escorted in accordance with AR 740-32.

Tabun (GA) decomposes slowly in water; hydrolysis forms hydrogen cyanide. Under acid conditions, GA hydrolyzes to form hydrofluoric acid (HF). Raising the pH increases the rate of decomposition significantly. Rapidly hydrolyzed in basic solutions (Na2CO3, NaOH, or KOH) with a half-life of 1.5 minutes at pH 11 @25℃. GA and its hydrolysis products exhibit no significant phototransformations in sunlight. Tabun and its hydrolysis products are thermally stable at temperatures less than 49 ℃. Reacts with oxidizing materials. Tabun is destroyed by bleaching powder, but the reaction produces cyanogen chloride (CNCl). Decomposes within six months @ 60 ℃. Complete decomposition in 3.5 hours @ 150℃; may produce hydrogen cyanide, oxides of nitrogen; oxides of phosphorus; carbon monoxide; and hydogen cyanide. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas

Principles and methods for destruction of chemical weapons: “Destruction of chemical weapons” means a process by which chemicals are converted in an essentially irreversible way to a form unsuitable for production of chemical weapons, and which in an irreversible manner renders munitions and other devices unusable as such. Each/nation/shall determine how it shall destroy chemical weapons, except that the following processes may not be used: dumping in any body of water, land burial or open-pit burning. It shall destroy chemical weapons only at specifically designated and appropriately designed and equipped facilities. Each. /nation/ shall ensure that its chemical weapons destruction facilities are constructed and operated in a manner to ensure the destruction of the chemical weapons; and that the destruction process can be verified under the provisions of this Convention. . A minimum of 56 grams of decon solution is required for each gram of GA. The decontamination solution is agitated while GA is added and the agitation is maintained for at least one hour. The resulting solution is allowed to react for 24 hours. At the end of 24 hours, the solution must be tritrated to a pH between 10 and 12. After completion of the 24 hour period, the decontamination solution must be treated with excess bleach (2.5 mole OC1-/mole GA) to destroy the CN formed during hydrolysis.Scoop up all material and place in a fully removable head drum with a high density polyethylene liner. Cover the contents with additional bleach before affixing the drum head. All contaminated clothing will be placed in a fully removable head drum with a high density polyethylene liner. Cover the contents of the drum with decontaminating solution as above before affixing the drum head. After sealing the head, the exterior of the drum shall be decontaminated and then labeled per IAW state, EPA and DOT regulations. All leaking containers shall be overpacked with vermiculite placed between the interior and exterior containers. Decontaminate and label in accordance with IAW, state, EPA, and DOT regulations. Conduct general area monitoring with an approved monitor to confirm that the atmospheric concentrations do not exceed the airborne exposure limit.